Interesting Facts About Bhagavad-Gītā | Fact #7 | By Dr Kausthub Desikachar
The Bhagavad-gītā, often known as The Gītā, is one of the most popular scriptures in the Vedic tradition. It is an in-depth conversation between the prince Arjuṇa and Lord Krṣṇa and takes place just before the great war and presents a range of philosophical topics that offer helpful ideas about how to live our life.
The text is a synthesis of high quality of the core teachings from the Vedic culture, and hence is also often called as an Upaniṣad, despite it not being part of the four Veda-s. It combines many different elements from Sāṁkhya, Yoga and Vedānta philosophies and therefore provides insight into various facets of the Vedic tradition.
Fact 7 | The symbolism of the Chariot, the Charioteer and the Prince explained.
Apart from the eighteen chapters of interactions between Arjuna and Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Bhagavad-gītā offers many symbolic teachings through the imagery and icons presented in the epic.
Take, for instance, the arrangement of Arjuna's Chariot. Arjuna is riding on a grand chariot that is drawn by five horses. Each of these horses is reigned in by five reins, which is controlled by Lord Kṛṣṇa. And of course Arjuna, the prince is the rider of the Chariot.
Although there are many ways to interpret this, here is one such intriguing interpretation.
Arjuna, the passenger, represents the Puruṣa, who has a dharmic journey to fulfil. It is no one else's duty except his own. Just the same way that the Puruṣa in each of us has a pre-determined karmic journey to embark on to express our Dharma entirely, and on fulfilling which, we achieve liberation.
To accomplish this, the Puruṣa needs a vehicle to do so. This is what is represented by the strong and robust Chariot. Our life is indeed like a battle with many trials and tribulations. Though we are focused on fulfilling our mission, challenges, and obstacles frequently arise. Unless our body is healthy and fit, the destination may not be reached. Puruṣa needs the assistance of a healthy body to achieve its objective.
The five horses represent the five senses, which can run astray unless reined in. The five reins that discipline the horses represent the five activities of the mind. The mind's activities also need to be in check, else both the mind and the sense can wander without direction, and the Puruṣa fails to reach the final destination.
This is why Lord Kṛṣṇa continuously holds them in his hands, not only during the war but also while offering wisdom to Arjuna. In the same manner, the divine light in our heart is the one that reins in our mind and senses, while at the same time offering direction to the Puruṣa. We need not search for wisdom elsewhere if we can only quietly surrender to and listen to the intuitive clarity from the divine in our hearts.
One of the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā is that we all have a pre-destined Dharma to fulfil, based on our past Karma-s. To accomplish this Dharma, our Puruṣa needs a vehicle, the body, which in turn requires the mind and the senses. All these need to be reined in by the divine light that is in our heart; otherwise, we will be lost. This is one of the symbolisms of the way Arjuna, Lord Kṛṣṇa and the Chariot are represented in the Bhagavad-gītā.
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In October 2020, we are offering an online seminar titled The Yoga of the Bhagavad-gītā, where Dr Kausthub Desikachar will present key Yogic Concepts presented in the text and compare it with how they have been presented in the Yogasūtra-s of Patañjali.
Don’t miss this chance to dive deep into the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā.